OSHKOSH, Wis. — The Wisconsin Herd is being led this year by a first-time head coach.
The Herd hired a new and first-time head coach, Beno Udrih, to start the year.
The players are excited because the team is in the post-season hunt. Meanwhile, the fans have sold out Oshkosh Arena multiple times this season.
Udrih, who hails from Slovenia, spent over a decade in the NBA as a point guard.
He took home two championship rings with the San Antonio Spurs in 2005 and 2007.
Udrih said in his new role as Herd head coach, his main goal is player development.
“I always said, winning is important because it’s [more fun]; it helps you come to work,” said Udrih. “I think if you have a winning mentality, a winning culture, winning organization, you develop players even more.”
Kihei Clark is a former University of Virginia basketball player. Clark said learning from coach Udrih has been helpful.
“It’s a transition for both of us and we kind of just been learning together,” said Clark. “[I’m] just trying to pick his mind and he’s a great teacher. He’s always coaching us, showing us little intricacies of the game.”
Those intricacies include what coach Udrih said he learned while growing up overseas.
“I think if you just put together working on the details and the athleticism the guys have, the sky’s the limit,” said Udrih. “So, I definitely sprinkle some European stuff.”
As the Herd wrapped up its regular season, the coach said he is already thinking about the future.
“[There were] definitely a lot of challenges,” said Udrih. “But, the way the season went this year, I think we can look back and can be happy about it. We definitely made some steps forward.”